February 6, 200917 yr I am looking at an 81 GL for parts. I have an 81 Brat with the 1800 engine. Will the engine from the 61 GL swap in without too many issues? Thanks
February 6, 200917 yr Same engine, so it would swap no problem. Everything else on the car is worthless to you though. The 81 GL Brat was an odd beast having the body of the Gen 1 and the drivetrain of the Gen 2. GD
February 6, 200917 yr The engines physically are the same but the difference between the two is the '81 Brat still has a top mounted starter on the bellhousing where the newer EA81s have the side mounted starter. So the bellhousing on the engines would have to be swapped.
February 7, 200917 yr I do not beleive that is the case. The 81 GL Brat also had the dual-range and is the same physical transmission as the 81 GL wagon. It should have a side-mounted starter. As far as I know, no EA81 ever came with a top-mount. GD
February 7, 200917 yr I do not beleive that is the case. The 81 GL Brat also had the dual-range and is the same physical transmission as the 81 GL wagon. It should have a side-mounted starter. As far as I know, no EA81 ever came with a top-mount. GD I know they did GD, I've seen one in person and remember the top mounted starter. The '81 GL Brat was the only car to come with the top mounted starter EA81 and a d/r 4-speed.
February 7, 200917 yr I had a D/R 4 speed from an 81 Brat - installed it into an 82 Brat. It was a side mount starter. The 4WD shifter ball-joint has to be turned 90 degrees because of the linkage differences but other than that they are identical transmissions. Unless you can show difinitive proof of an EA81 with a top-mount starter I for one can't beleive it to exist. GD
February 8, 200917 yr Well crap, I found a pic of an EA81 '81 Brat and it had the side mounted starter... I was almost sure that maximumBrat's old EA81 '81 GL Brat had a top mounted starter for some reason.... Now I'm all sorts of confused:-\ And now I feel like a n00b again..... Edited February 8, 200917 yr by Caboobaroo
February 8, 200917 yr Same engine, so it would swap no problem. Everything else on the car is worthless to you though. The 81 GL Brat was an odd beast having the body of the Gen 1 and the drivetrain of the Gen 2. GD Correct me if im wrong gd but i thought they changed the body style version to gen 2 in 81 but kept the gen 1 drivetrain. Thats why it was so hard to find liftkits for them.
February 9, 200917 yr Correct me if im wrong gd but i thought they changed the body style version to gen 2 in 81 but kept the gen 1 drivetrain. Thats why it was so hard to find liftkits for them. No, '81 was the last year of the gen 1 Brat which had the EA81 and dual range 4-speed IF it was a GL. '82 was the bodystyle and suspension change to the actual EA81 bodystyle (well that we refer to as an EA81 car).
February 14, 200917 yr I have an 81 Brat GL wih D/R 4 Spd. It has a top mounted starter 81 Brats Rock -Kurt
February 14, 200917 yr I have an 81 Brat GL wih D/R 4 Spd. It has a top mounted starter81 Brats Rock -Kurt Is it on the drivers-side top, or smack in the middle of the top? GD
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